The Color Purple

The global authority on all things color raised more than a few eyebrows when it announced that the color of the year for 2014 would be purple. The specific color, PANTONE 18-3224 Radiant Orchid, was chosen by Pantone LLC, which provides professional color standards for designers in the areas of home, fashion and industry.

Orchid is a bright, rich purple color based on the orchidaceae flower and ranges from grayish purple to purplish-pink to strong reddish purple. The first recorded use of orchid as a color name in English was in 1915. On the color wheel, purple lies between red and blue but is closer to red. Purple is not its own color but a combination of the two, unlike violet that is closer to blue which has its own place on the spectrum of light.

“While the 2013 color of the year, PANTONE 17-5641 Emerald, served as a symbol of growth, renewal and prosperity, Radiant Orchid reaches across the color wheel to intrigue the eye and spark the imagination,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “An invitation to innovation, Radiant Orchid encourages expanded creativity and originality, which is increasingly valued in today’s society.”

“An enchanting harmony of fuchsia, purple and pink undertones, Radiant Orchid inspires confidence and emanates great joy, love and health. It is a captivating purple, one that draws you in with its beguiling charm,” Eiseman assures us.

Interior designers rose to the occasion by incorporating this eye-catching hue in paint, accent pieces and accessories. At first glance you wouldn’t think purple goes with anything, but Radiant Orchid goes with most everything. Olive and hunter greens feel lighter, and when paired with turquoise, teal and even yellows the effect is breathtaking. And a little of this vibrant shade goes a long way to update neutrals, including gray, beige and taupe. Often considered the color of royalty and piety, Radiant Orchid can be formal or playful. Using a few well-placed accents can provide a unifying element for diverse spaces.

Sources: Maerz and Paul A Dictionary of Color New York: 1930 McGraw-Hill; www.pantone.com.

To hear more about the latest in interior design trends visit the 2014 Art & Antiques Show which will host nationally-known interior design and style experts Bobby McAlpine & Susan Ferrier, Jan Showers, Jane Schwab & Cindy Smith, Julie Reed, and a seminar by local design authorities Juliana Catlin & E. William Nash IV. The Show will be held Dec. 5-7 at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center and is presented by the Women’s Board to benefit Wolfson Children’s Hospital. For a complete schedule of events and ticket information, please visit www.artandantiquesshow.com or call 904-202-2886.

Article written by Janet Reagor

Author: Arbus

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